Maid slain in botched Malate robbery

MANILA, Philippines - Two knife-wielding men barged into a house in Malate, Manila in broad daylight yesterday, killing a 53-year-old housemaid and wounding her employer’s 20-year-old son, but left without taking anything. 

Sabina Estabillo, a long-time maid of a Filipino-Chinese couple Armando and Nancy Chua, died from a slit throat and stab wounds in the body.

Chua’s son, Allister, was treated for at least nine gashes in both arms at the Ospital ng Maynila. He was subsequently sent home after treatment.

Homicide section head Chief Inspector Erwin Margarejo, the two victims were having lunch in their residence on Taft Avenue, Malate when their doorbell rang. Estabillo saw on their surveillance camera that two men held out a cake and went to open the gate. Allister told police he was shocked when he saw two men holding their maid at knifepoint and leading her into the house.

He said the robbers ordered him to face the wall, and he heard Estabillo screaming and fighting off the intruders. He turned to look and saw the maid lying motionless on the floor, blood streaming from her wounds.

He said one of the suspects also stabbed him repeatedly, but he tried to ward off the thrusts with his arms. After sustaining several wounds, he said he passed out.

Allister regained consciousness while being brought to the hospital by their family driver.

His father, Armando, told police he discovered the carnage when he and his wife returned home from the bank at around 1 p.m. The couple said the suspects could have panicked after the stabbing and failed to take any valuables from the house.